MIAMI – Greater than two dozen people have been charged within the Southern District of Florida for his or her alleged participation in a wire fraud scheme that created an unlawful licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses.
In keeping with three not too long ago unsealed indictments returned by a South Florida federal grand jury and two informations filed by federal prosecutors, defendants engaged in a scheme to promote fraudulent nursing diploma diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing colleges to people in search of licenses and jobs as registered nurses (RNs) and licensed sensible/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs).
The bogus diplomas and transcripts certified purchasers to take a seat for the nationwide nursing board examination and, after passing it, to acquire licenses and jobs in numerous states as RNs and LPN/VNs. The general scheme concerned the distribution of greater than 7,600 pretend nursing diplomas issued by three South Florida-based nursing colleges: Siena Faculty in Broward County, Fla., Palm Seashore Faculty of Nursing in Palm Seashore County, Fla., and Sacred Coronary heart Worldwide Institute in Broward County. These colleges are actually closed.
Every defendant faces as much as 20 years in jail.
“Not solely is that this a public security concern, it additionally tarnishes the status of nurses who really full the demanding scientific and course work required to acquire their skilled licenses and employment,” stated U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, who added that “a fraud scheme like this erodes public belief in our well being care system.”
Crimes corresponding to these sadly proceed to spring up, particularly on this space.
“Well being care fraud is nothing new to South Florida, as many scammers see this as a solution to earn simple, although unlawful, cash, “stated performing Particular Agent in Cost Chad Yarbrough, FBI Miami. “What’s disturbing about this investigation is that there are over 7,600 individuals across the nation with fraudulent nursing credentials who’re probably in essential well being care roles treating sufferers. Have been it not for the diligence and arduous work of the investigators on this case, the extent of this fraud could not have been found.”
The fees communicate to the aim of a nursing license which is to guard the general public from hurt by setting minimal {qualifications} and competencies.
“The alleged promoting and buying of nursing diplomas and transcripts to keen however unqualified people is a criminal offense that probably endangers the well being and security of sufferers and insults the honorable occupation of nursing,” stated Particular Agent in Cost Omar Pérez Aybar of Division of Well being and Human Companies, Workplace of Inspector Common (HHS-OIG). “In coordination with our legislation enforcement companions, HHS-OIG continues to aggressively examine unhealthy actors who so overtly disregard the well-being of others in an effort to enrich themselves fraudulently.”
Costs Associated to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Siena Faculty.
U.S. v. Witherspoon, et al., case no.: 23-60005-Cr-Smith
U.S. v. Sanon, case no.: 23-60013-Cr-Moreno
The charging paperwork describe Siena Faculty as a Broward County college licensed by the Florida Fee for Unbiased Training and the Florida Board of Nursing that provides a Sensible Nursing Program and an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. Eunide Sanon managed Siena Faculty.
The indictment fees defendants Stanton Witherspoon of Burlington County N.J.; Alfred Sellu of Burlington County N.J.; and Rene Bernadel of Westchester County, N.Y. with conspiring to commit and committing wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Witherspoon, Sellu, and Bernadel solicited and recruited people who sought nursing credentials to realize employment as an RN or LPN/VN. It’s alleged that these defendants organized with Sanon, who managed Siena Faculty and is charged by data with wire fraud conspiracy, to create and distribute false and fraudulent diplomas and transcripts. These pretend paperwork represented that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN candidates had attended Siena Faculty’s nursing program in Broward County and accomplished the required programs and clinicals to acquire RN or LPN/VN diplomas. Actually, the aspiring nurses by no means accomplished the required programs and clinicals.
The data in opposition to Sanon alleges that he and others bought 1000’s of pretend Siena Faculty nursing diplomas and academic transcripts to nursing candidates who used them to acquire RN or LPN/VN licenses in numerous states and nursing jobs with unwitting well being care suppliers all through the nation.
Costs Associated to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Seashore Faculty of Nursing.
U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no.: 23-60007-Cr-Singhal
In keeping with the charging paperwork, Palm Seashore Faculty of Nursing’s goal was to arrange college students to fulfill Florida’s licensing and nursing board necessities and change into eligible to take the nationwide licensing examination in an effort to work as registered nurses.
The indictment fees Gail Russ of Broward County; Cheryl Stanley of Collier County, Fla.; Krystal Lopez of Palm Seashore County; Ricky Riley of Broward County; Norberto Lopez of Palm Seashore County; Damian Lopez of Palm Seashore County; Francois Legagneur of Nassau County, N.Y.; Reynoso Seide of Union County, N.J.; Cassandre Jean of Palm Seashore County; Yelva Saint Preux of Suffolk County, N.Y.; Evangeline Naissant of Nassau County, N.Y.; Rony Michel of Monmouth County, N.J.; Vilaire Duroseau of Essex County, N.J.; and Yvrose Thermitus, a/okay/a “Yvrose Thompson,” of Union County, N.J., with conspiring to commit, and committing, wire fraud. The indictment alleges that these defendants solicited and recruited people who sought nursing credentials to realize employment as an RN or LPN/VN.
It’s alleged that these recruiter defendants then organized with Palm Seashore Faculty of Nursing’s proprietor Johanah Napoleon and faculty workers Gail Russ, Cheryl Stanley, Krystal Lopez, and Ricky Riley to create and distribute false and fraudulent diplomas and transcripts representing that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN candidates had attended Palm Seashore Faculty of Nursing and accomplished the required programs and clinicals to acquire RN or LPN/VN diplomas. Actually, the aspiring nurses by no means accomplished the required programs and clinicals.
The nursing candidates used the pretend diplomas and transcripts they bought from the proprietor and workers of Palm Seashore Faculty of Nursing to acquire RN or LPN/VN licenses in numerous states and nursing jobs with unwitting well being care suppliers all through the nation. Napoleon was beforehand charged by data and has pled responsible to conspiring to commit well being care fraud and wire fraud, in addition to wire fraud (case nos. 22-60111-Cr-Smith and 22-60118-Cr-Smith).
Costs Associated to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Sacred Coronary heart Worldwide Institute
U.S. v. Jean, et al., case no.: 23-60010-Cr-Smith
U.S. v. Etienne, case no.: 23-60012-Cr-Singhal
In keeping with charging paperwork, Sacred Coronary heart Worldwide Institute was a Broward County Faculty licensed by the Florida Board of Nursing that supplied a nursing program designed to arrange college students for employment as sensible nurses.
The indictment fees Ludnie Jean of Harris County, Texas; Serge Jean of Harris County, Texas; Simon Itaman of Harris County, Texas; Anna Itaman of Harris County, Texas; Rhomy Louis of Suffolk County, N.Y.; and Nadege Auguste of Broward County with conspiring to and committing wire fraud. It’s alleged that these defendants solicited and recruited people who sought nursing credentials to realize employment as an LPN/VN. These recruiters then organized with Charles Etienne, Sacred Coronary heart’s proprietor, to create and distribute false and fraudulent transcripts and diplomas representing that the aspiring candidates had attended Sacred Coronary heart and accomplished the required programs and clinicals to acquire LPN/VN diplomas. Actually, the aspiring nurses by no means accomplished the required programs and clinicals. Etienne is charged by data with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The nursing candidates used the pretend diplomas and transcripts they bought from Sacred Coronary heart to acquire LPN/VN licenses in numerous states and nursing jobs with unwitting well being care suppliers all through the nation.
U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; performing Particular Agent in Cost Chad Yarbrough, FBI, Miami Subject Workplace; and Particular Agent in Cost Omar Perez Aybar, HHS-OIG, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami investigated these instances. Helpful help was supplied by Homeland Safety Investigations, Miami Subject Workplace; U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs-Workplace of Inspector Common; United States Postal Inspection Service, Miami; and Florida Legal professional Common-Florida Medicaid Fraud Management Unit, Mid-Atlantic Subject Workplace. Assistant U.S. Legal professional Christopher J. Clark is prosecuting this case and Assistant U.S. Legal professional Nicole Grosnoff is dealing with asset forfeiture. This case is being prosecuted along with a associated prison matter within the District of Maryland.
Associated court docket paperwork and knowledge could also be discovered on the web site of the District Courtroom for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov
Click on right here to entry charging paperwork.
23-CR-60005
23-CR-60007
23-CR-60010
23-CR-60012
23-CR-60013
